Eco-Earth Globe

The Eco-Earth Globe is a massive tile mosaic sculpture that sits at the south end of Salem’s Riverfront Park. This colorful work of public art represents the geography, peoples and animals of Earth. It has been adorned with more than 86,000 tiles making up continents, islands, and oceans, and an additional 200 handmade glazed ceramic icons that depict wildlife, cultures, religions, and mythical creatures from around the world. All of the decorative tile icons were created by professional artists and more than 125 local high school students under the supervision of Eco-Earth Art Director Mary Heintzman. This iconic piece of public art took five years and an estimated 30,000 volunteer hours to complete.

Story Behind the Globe

Creation of the Eco-Earth Globe transformed an industrial era eyesore into a vibrant work of community art. The globe was converted from a 26-foot diameter steel acid storage ball that previously belonged to the Boise Cascade Pulp and Paper Company. It was originally built in Portland’s Albina Shipyards and floated up the Willamette River to Salem. The steel ball that became the globe of colorful icons and tiles is 84.5 feet in circumference and once held acid and gases used to break down wood chips into pulp for the paper mill. The globe still stands on its original spot at the former plywood processing plant which closed in 1982.

The acid ball makeover was conceived by former Mayor Roger Gertenrich and funded by the Salem community. Volunteer efforts began in 1999 and included students, artists, professional tile setters/cutters, and interested community members. Geographer Jule Youngren created a complex grid system that became the template for the Earth’s continents, features, and for accurate placement of the tile. Mary Heintzman coordinated the multi-year effort with artists and students to sculpt, fire, and paint the artistic tile icons.

The Eco-Earth Globe was unveiled to the community on June 28, 2003 (a date that coincided with the annual World Beat Festival at the park) as a symbol for global awareness, world peace, and cultural diversity. A proclamation to formally recognize the unveiling date as Eco-Earth Day in Oregon was signed by Governor Ted Kulongoski. This proclamation recognized the efforts of former Salem Mayor Roger Gertenrich and all of the community volunteers who spent four years creating this artwork.

Eco-Earth Globe Restoration

After years of exposure to the elements, the Eco-Earth Globe began to lose tiles and show signs of disrepair. In 2017, the Salem Public Art Commission reached out to Cascadia Art Conservation Center to examine the artwork and conditions causing disrepair. This initial report noted signs of water infiltration and potential corrections moving forward. Additional analysis of the overall sculpture and materials was suggested. With many details yet unknown, a high-level cost estimate was assumed.

In November of 2020, the Commission contracted with Architectural Resources Group to complete a comprehensive condition assessment with cost estimates. This assessment provided a close examination of the 60 separate panels that make up the globe, a list of recommended repairs, and a detailed cost estimate. In all, complete restoration of the Eco-Earth Globe is anticipated to cost $400,000. The 2020 assessment outlines a path forward for restoring this prominent piece of public art.

The Salem Parks Foundation has graciously stepped up to coordinate a community fundraising effort with a goal to raise $300,000 (of the $400,000 estimated total) for these repairs.

Interested in learning more about Salem’s Eco-Earth Globe? Check out this incredible video by Markee Productions (2004), Creating a New World – The Story of Eco-Earth Globe.

Free viewers are required for some of the attached documents.
They can be downloaded by clicking on the icons below.

Acrobat Reader Windows Media Player Word Viewer Excel Viewer PowerPoint Viewer